philippians

The Protestant Reformation has been the impetus for progress and development in the western world for five hundred years. To this great movement we owe our civil governments, philanthropic enterprises, health, education, and much more. But the Reformation was no dream of man. From a human perspective it began quite unintended in the heart of one man in Germany who came to the burning conviction that “the just will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17).

Living “by faith” not only means trusting Christ as my Saviour from the penalty of sin but a continued trust in Him as my sanctifier from the pollution and power of sin and my security from the wiles of the devil. Faith in Christ is a complete transfer of allegiance from self to the Saviour. The prophet Isaiah points to Him as the“Wonderful” One, the “Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

It is faith alone in this Saviour that will enable us, as it did Paul and Luther and a great cloud of other witnesses besides, to leave everything—body and soul, temporal and eternal—in His hands. Only when we have done this can we say with Paul “for to me to live is Christ.”

Reading: So now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”—Philippians 1:20-21